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An Update on Wisconsin Senate Recall Efforts

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Six of the eight recall campaigns that were initiated against eligible Senate Republicans gathered the requisite number of petition signatures—and then some—by their May 2 deadline. (Under Wisconsin law, a lawmaker must have been in office for at least one year to be eligible for recall.) The Government Accountability Board is verifying the signatures, and recall elections are tentatively scheduled for July 12.

Here's the rundown of the successful recall petitions against Senate Republicans.

The committee to recall Sen. Robert Cowles gathered an estimated 26,000 signatures—15,960 signatures were needed.

Republican supporters launched their own recall campaign initiatives against eight Senate Democrats who have been in office at least one year. Three of those recall campaigns submitted signed petitions by their deadlines; however, countless numbers of signatures on those petitions are being challenged, which may invalidate the petitions.

The committee to recall Sen. Jim Holperin purports to have gathered 23,300 signatures (15,960 are needed); the American Recall Coalition, which targeted Sen. Robert Wirch purports to have gathered 18,300 signatures (13,537 are needed); and the committee to recall Sen. Dave Hansen purports to have gathered 18,872 signatures (13,852 are needed). Petition submissions are due May 16 by a second group trying to recall Hansen and the American Recall Coalition's effort against Sen. Julie Lassa. [Kathy Nicholson]

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